title: Factors related to colonization with Oxalobacter formigenes in U.S. adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the determinants of Oxalobacter formigenes colonization in humans.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  O. formigenes is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that colonizes the colon of a substantial proportion of the normal population and metabolizes dietary and endogenous oxalate. The bacterium has been associated with a large reduction in the odds of recurrent calcium oxalate kidney stones. Subjects were 240 healthy individuals from Massachusetts and North Carolina. O. formigenes was detected by culture of fecal swabs. Information on factors of interest was obtained by telephone interviews and self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of O. formigenes was 38%. Use of specific antibiotics previously thought to affect the bacterium was significantly related to colonization, with prevalences of 17%, 27%, and 36%, for those who had used these drugs <1, 1-5, and >5 years ago, compared with 55% in nonusers. There were no significant associations with demographic factors, nutrient intake, or medical history, although the prevalence appeared to increase somewhat with increasing oxalate consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some antibiotics markedly affect colonization with O. formigenes. Although no other factor was identified as having a material influence on the prevalence of the bacterium, there is much to learn about how an individual acquires the organism and which factors affect persistence of colonization.
authors.affiliation: Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. jlpkelly@bu.edu
authors.forename: Judith Parsells
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Gary C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Curhan
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cave
authors.forename: Theresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D020624:Oxalobacter formigenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents